John DeLorean Dies at 80

The Daily Auto Insider: John Z. DeLorean, a brilliant auto engineer and charismatic auto industry executive, died Saturday at 80 in New Jersey after complications from a stroke.

John Z. DeLorean, a brilliant auto engineer and charismatic auto industry executive, died Saturday at 80 in New Jersey after complications from a stroke.

A Detroit native, DeLorean started in the business with Packard but soon moved to General Motors where he ultimately ran the Pontiac and Chevrolet divisions and is best remembered for starting the Muscle Car era by putting a big engine into a Pontiac Tempest and renaming it the GTO.

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Unlike the conservative and reclusive auto executives of the time, DeLorean dressed in designer suits, dated and married models and starlets, and moved in celebrity circles. Yet, despite his high profile, many considered him to be on the fast track to one day lead the world's biggest automaker.

But DeLorean chose to quit GM in 1973 to start his own business — DeLorean Motor Car Co. — and in 1981 launched the DeLorean DMC-12, a gull-wing sports car with an unpainted stainless steel exterior. Unfortunately, it was underpowered by a 130-horsepower Peugeot-Renault-Volvo fuel-injected V-6 and hit the market in economically depressed times.

After selling fewer than 9,000 cars, which were built in Ireland, DeLorean Motor Car folded in 1983, a year after its founder was busted in a drug trafficking sting and accused of selling $24 million worth of cocaine to rescue his failing company. DeLorean was ultimately acquitted in 1984 after his lawyers successfully argued he was entrapped, but his day in the limelight was over. He pretty much disappeared from the scene and, in 1999, declared bankruptcy.

He was not forgotten, however, Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO of General Motors said in a statement: "John DeLorean was one of Detroit's larger-than-life figures who secured a noteworthy place in our industry's history. He made a name for himself through his talent, creativity, innovation and daring. At GM, he will always be remembered as the father of the Pontiac GTO, which really started the muscle-car craze of the '60s. Our thoughts today are with his family as we join them in mourning his passing."

DeLorean is survived by his wife, Sally DeLorean; son, Zachary Tavio DeLorean; daughters, Kathryn Ann DeLorean and Sheila Baldwin DeLorean; three brothers; several nieces and nephews; and two grandchildren.